Rashied Ali and Ulysses Owens Jr.

I am on my way to work, running late...but I just wanted to say I had a great show this morning with Ulysses Owens Jr., a wonderfully articulate man who loves the music as much as he loves life and being a change agent in the lives of those he encounters musically on the stage. We played songs from his debut CD, talked about artists who mentored him when he arrived in New York, those he met at Julliard where he was the first graduating class in Jazz Studies, such as Mulgrew Miller and Eric Reed, Russell Malone, not to mention his family and friends who supported his interest in music and in a professional career. The music and the conversation where like an extended solo on a uncut record. Enjoy, it is currently playing now: http://www.wandaspicks.asmnetwork.org and visit www.usojazzy.com


This morning we will speak to Ulysses Owens Jr., drummer, about his work and the legacy of Rashied Ali who passed from this life a week ago. Ali played with John Coltrane and Coltrane's late wife, Alice Coltrane. We'll play some of Ulysses' favorite Rashied tracks along with some of my Ulysses's favorites, from his latest, "U.O. Project 'It's Time for U." "It's Time" is a wonderful work featuring vocals as well as instrumental work, all peppered with Owens' distinctive or perhaps the correct term is signature percussion. We'll take calls if you want to share Rashied Ali memories or reflections. We played music from a number of
albums, many from: "No One In Particular" with the Rashied Ali Quintet featuring: Ravi Coltrane on saxes, Gene Ess on guitar, Greg Murphy on piano, Matt Garrison on bass and the unstoppable spirit of Rashied Ali on drums. Visit http://bitmunk.com/media/6341966.

Thursday, August 20, we'll have a special broadcast from 1-3 PM. Guests will be from SF Playhouse's current staging of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and perhaps Lolis Eric Elie, the principle or subject of "Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of New Orleans." There is a benefit for the Oakland Public Conservatory Saturday, August 29, 2009. The event is scheduled to coincide with the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The event is at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, August 29, at the Kaiser Center Auditorium, 300 Lakeside Drive, 2nd Floor.

On hand to discuss the film with audiences will be its co-producer, co-writer and central narrator, nationally renowned New Orleans newspaperman Lolis Eric Elie. Director Dawn Logsdon and producer Lucie Faulknor will also bring their perspective and expertise to the panel discussion.Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir will make a special appearance. Also featured are the Oakland Public Conservatory Youth Marimba Band and The Frederick Douglass Youth Ensemble. All proceeds benefit the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, the East Bay's leading source for affordable music education and performance for local youth and families. Tickets for the screening are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76969.